This season, Pace is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its swimming and diving program.

It is turning out to be a memorable occasion for the Knights, who have earned spots in the state meet in a large number of events during the 2012-13 campaign.

With 41 swimmers and divers on the team — its largest roster in years — Pace has also set 13 school records as well as having every one of its athletes achieve a personal-best performance.

“We have been really successful,” Pace coach John Ague said. “Our numbers are up and we have a number of kids who have qualified for state. It’s the big No. 40 for us and we want to celebrate it by having a successful season.”

Sophomore diver Harrison Moncino, who was among 100 boys’ swimmers and divers selected as an All-American in 2012 by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association, has picked up where he left off with yet another big year.

Moncino, the Class A-AAAA runner-up in the boys’ 1-meter diving event a year ago, has qualified for a return trip to the state meet in that event as well as setting a school record in the 1-meter, six-dive event (324.35 points).

“Harrison is a very good diver,” Ague said. “He had a very good freshman season last year and he’s getting better as a diver this year.”

Moncino has been joined by his younger brother, Owen Moncino, a freshman who has also qualified for state and gives Pace a potent 1-2 punch on the diving board.

Senior Jason Wiener is another key boys’ performer for the Knights. Wiener has qualified for the state meet in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minute, 11.85 seconds), 100 freestyle (50.39 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.92).

Pace has been boosted on the girls’ side by the addition of freshmen standouts Grace Ferry, Madison Graham and Brenner Appel to go along with a strong group of upperclassmen on both their boys and girls’ squads.

“We have a nice group of freshmen and our seniors our nice, solid athletes who have contributed greatly to the program,” Ague said. “We have a solid group of sophomores and juniors who are also contributing in a big way.”

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